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Definition of curling

curling

/ˈkɝːlɪŋ/
curl · ing

Plural:curlings
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curling Lexical Profile

curling Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A team winter sport played on ice in which players slide heavy, polished granite stones toward a circular target area, using brooms to sweep the ice and guide the stone's trajectory.

Example

"During the Winter Olympics, millions of viewers tune in to watch the strategic precision of curling."


2

The act or process of forming into a curved, spiral, or coiled shape.

Example

"The sudden curling of the plant's leaves indicated that the soil was too dry."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• adjective

1

Forming or moving in curved, spiral, or coiled shapes.

Example

"Ribbons of curling smoke rose steadily from the stone chimney into the crisp autumn air."

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for curling

Word Origin & Etymology

The winter sport of curling originated in 16th-century Scotland on frozen lochs and ponds; its name derives from the Scots verb 'curl', describing the curved path and low rumbling sound of the granite stone as it slides across the ice.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Curling. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/curling
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